WCEDC Staff

Warren County Economic Development Corporation (WCEDC) is naturally set with a talented and professional team.  Each professional brings unique qualities and strengths to the team.  The team implements the Roadmap to Success Sales & Marketing Plan approved by the WCEDC Board of Directors.

Jason White Executive Director Phone: (515) 961-1067 Email: jwhite@wcedc.com Jason White recently accepted the position of Executive Director for the Warren County Economic Development Corporation. White accepted the position of Executive Director of Midwest Partnership Development Corporation in May 2006. He led the organization through a re-branding project, achieved key goals, and pulled the organization out of significant financial hardship while working for a 30-member board, covering four counties and managing several staff. Midwest Partnership EDC was the recipient in January 2011 of Iowa Area Development Group's coveted "Silver Shovel", an honor given to the organization's outstanding statewide economic development partner. White was previously Executive Director of the Appanoose Economic Development Corporation in south central Iowa. He has also held political positions in the Iowa House of Representatives, Iowa Senate and as a campaign consultant. White also worked as a redevelopment specialist for the City of Coralville, Iowa. White received his B.A. from Loras College and M.A. from the University of Iowa. He completed the Heartland Economic Development Course, graduated from the Economic Development Institute, achieved Project Coordinator status with Business Retention & Expansion International, and is completing studies to become a certified economic developer. White completed a one-year term as President of the Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) for 2009-2010. He also serves as co-chair of the association's legislative committee.

Hollie Askey Director of Operations Phone: (515) 961-1067 Email: haskey@wcedc.com Hollie Askey is WCEDC's Director of Operations. A native of Red Oak, Iowa, Hollie went to school in Omaha, NE to become a nutritionist and certified personal trainer. She worked for World Gym in Omaha as a fitness trainer and membership sales associate. Askey later decided to pursue the path of management and utilize her nutrition education by managing LA Weight Loss Centers in Omaha and Council Bluffs. She transferred to an LA Weight Loss Center in Tampa, Florida, and shortly thereafter, was offered the position of Operations Manager at Bally Total Fitness. Askey then opened her own fitness center called Ashton Personal Fitness Center in Clearwater, Florida. During her six years as a business owner she also coached youth group cheerleading and dance teams, appeared in news television segments as the Bay News 9, Chief Meteorologists personal trainer, and even hosted her own fitness segments on Tampa Bay's “Fitness on Demand”. In 2008, Askey sold her business and moved back to the Midwest to be closer to her family. She took a position with the Montgomery County Family Y.M.C.A. in Red Oak as the Marketing Director. Askey created ad campaigns, marketing materials, membership specials, and designed the Y.M.C.A. website. She also wrote and delivered radio ads for the Y.M.C.A., coached cheer and dance, and organized and participated in many fundraiser and charity events. Most recently, she served as a Loan Specialist with the USDA Rural Development agency, working with rural communities on projects to improve infrastructure, public safety, health care and education.

Mark Litten Project Director Phone: (614) 648-5015 Email: mlitten@wcedc.com As a consultant for Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, Mark Litten recently joined the WCEDC team. Litten is guiding WCEDC's investment campaign. Litten is a seasoned economic development professional with over 23 years experience leading development groups at the state, regional, and local levels. He most recently served as Executive Director of the Erie County Economic Development Corporation (ECEDC) in Sandusky, Ohio, for nine years. Major accomplishments included providing leadership in guiding his organization through an aggressive 5-year campaign that raised $1.25 million in 2004 in a tough market that was experiencing a downturn in the automotive industry. Litten's organization was honored in 2005 by Site Selection Magazine, the premier economic development trade publication, as a "Top 10 Economic Development Group in North America", the ONLY Ohio organization to ever receive the award. Litten has held other economic development positions, and was appointed by former Ohio Governor George Voinovich to cover a 10-county region. He has also been a leader on various state and midwestern economic development boards and commissions. This unique background of serving both public and private non-profit entities has given Litten a sense of what works in economic development.

Bryce Davis Leadership Liaison Phone: (515) 961-1067 Email: Davis.BryceR@gmail.com Bryce Davis was recently selected to be the Leadership Liaison for the Warren County Economic Development Corporation. In 2010, Davis gained excellent experience through his work with Doug's Cleaning Service as the Assistant Manager; where he led day to day operations at a small business in Denison, IA. He went on to accept a Sales & Marketing Internship for the Iowa Energy in Des Moines, IA. The Iowa Energy set back-to-back sporting records with the NBA Development League and the Wells Fargo Arena for attendance. Davis brings an array of superb qualities to his new position and is very excited to be involved. Davis is currently attending Simpson College in Indianola, IA where he will be receiving his B.A in Management and Economics and Finance. Outside of the classroom, Davis is very involved in everything Simpson has to offer. Bryce R. Davis received the R.J. Samson Students In Free Enterprise Award for 2009-2010. This award recognizes an entrepreneurial approach to improving the quality of life of those impacted.

Chelsea Rouse Campaign Coordinator Phone: (515) 961-1067 Email: crouse@wcedc.com An original native of Des Moines, Chelsea grew up mostly in the Chicago metro. She came back to Iowa to attend Iowa State and majored in Political Science and minor in Economics. Most recently, Chelsea was employed at the Science Center of Iowa downtown Des Moines as the School and Group Sales Coordinator for the last year and a half, facilitating marketing efforts for the school programs and corporate group program. She also served on the Annual Fundraising Event committee. Chelsea's previous experience includes serving as a communications intern for the Rebuild Iowa Office for the State of Iowa, working in the NAFTA Office at the Mexican Embassy and admissions representative while at Iowa State. Chelsea has assisted in several political campaigns, served as a delegate in the 2008 president campaign and likes to volunteer through Kiwanis. She now is a resident of Warren County and resides in Indianola.